Families of September 11 is now operating as the For Action Initiative. The
web pages on this site are available for informational purposes only.
Please visit us at www.foractioninitiative.org.

November 24, 2004

Holidays can be one of the most challenging times of year for survivors and grieving families. To help you cope during what may be a difficult time, Families of September 11 will be hosting a special chat room discussion next week on Thursday, December 2 from 8:00-9:00 PM EST. Dr. Donna Gaffney, a licensed mental health professional and faculty member of the International Trauma Studies Program at New York University, will moderate.

We encourage you to participate so that you can …

• Discuss particular issues that you face

• Learn and share coping strategies

• Support others in the 9/11 community

The FOS11 Chat Program provides an anonymous and supportive environment to explore issues of concern with a licensed mental health professional and your peers. As a reminder, all participants must be 18 years of age or older.

If you are a FOS11 member*, click here and enroll now in this important online discussion:

You will be able to choose a chat name and a password. Then, you will receive an email with a link to the chat. On Thursday, December 2 at 8:00 PM, please click on the link that is emailed to you and enter your chosen chat name and password.

For more on Holidays, Trauma and Loss, please read this recent article by Dr. Gaffney. You'll find suggestions for creating new family traditions and learn about the different purposes of family rituals and how tradition facilitates healing. The article also includes a reference list of books and websites that further explore the topic. Dr. Gaffney is the author of The Seasons of Grief: Helping Children Grow Through Loss. She wrote the professional guide accompanying the young adult book, 911: The Book of Help.